die
Taube
🕊️ What does "die Taube" mean?
The German word die Taube (noun, feminine) primarily refers to a bird from the pigeon family (Columbidae). In German, there isn't always a strict distinction made between the Haustaube/Stadttaube (domestic/city pigeon) and the Wildtaube/Turteltaube (wild dove/turtle dove).
It is a feminine noun, so the article used is always "die".
- Meaning 1: Bird species (e.g., Stadttaube - city pigeon, Brieftaube - carrier pigeon, Turteltaube - turtle dove). Example: Viele Tauben sitzen auf dem Marktplatz. (Many pigeons are sitting in the market square.)
- Meaning 2 (Symbolic): Symbol of peace or the Holy Spirit (often depicted as a white dove). Example: Die weiße Taube ist ein Symbol für den Frieden. (The white dove is a symbol of peace.)
🚨 Attention: Do not confuse it with the adjective "taub", which means "deaf".
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
📊 Grammar of "die Taube" in Detail
"Taube" is a feminine noun. Here are the declension tables:
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die Taube | eine Taube (a pigeon/dove) |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der Taube | einer Taube (of a pigeon/dove) |
| Dative (To whom?) | der Taube | einer Taube (to a pigeon/dove) |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die Taube | eine Taube (a pigeon/dove) |
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die Tauben | Tauben / einige Tauben (pigeons/doves / some pigeons/doves) |
| Genitive | der Tauben | Tauben / einiger Tauben (of pigeons/doves / of some pigeons/doves) |
| Dative | den Tauben | Tauben / einigen Tauben (to pigeons/doves / to some pigeons/doves) |
| Accusative | die Tauben | Tauben / einige Tauben (pigeons/doves / some pigeons/doves) |
Example Sentences
- Im Park füttert ein alter Mann die Tauben.
(In the park, an old man feeds the pigeons.) - Der Schlag der Taube war leer.
(The dove's loft was empty.) - Er gab der Taube etwas Brot.
(He gave the pigeon/dove some bread.) - Picasso malte oft eine Taube als Friedenssymbol.
(Picasso often painted a dove as a symbol of peace.)
🧠 How and When to Use "die Taube"?
"Die Taube" is used in various contexts:
- Everyday language: Often refers to Stadttauben (city pigeons) commonly found in urban areas. "Pass auf, da ist eine Taube!" (Watch out, there's a pigeon!)
- Biology/Zoology: To designate the bird species. "Die Ringeltaube ist eine häufige Wildtaubenart." (The wood pigeon is a common species of wild dove.)
- Symbolism: As a symbol of peace (often white) or the Holy Spirit in Christianity. "Zur Hochzeit ließen sie weiße Tauben fliegen." (They released white doves at the wedding.)
- Homing pigeon sport (Brieftaubensport): Refers to Brieftauben (homing/carrier pigeons). "Sein Hobby ist die Zucht von Brieftauben." (His hobby is breeding homing pigeons.)
- Colloquial (rare): Can sometimes be used slightly derogatorily for a naive person, similar to "little dove" or "Täubchen". (Be cautious with this usage!)
In general, "Taube" is a neutral word for the bird. The general term for bird is "der Vogel".
💡 Mnemonics for "die Taube"
- For the article "die": Imagine a queen (feminine, like "die") holding a white dove. Both queen and dove start with letters associated with "die" sounds (in some sense). Remember: Die Queen holds die Taube.
- For the meaning "pigeon/dove": The sound pigeons make is "coo" or "gurrr". The "au" in Taube sounds a bit like the "oo" in "coo". A Taube goes "coo".
Think: The nice lady (die nette Frau) feeds the pigeon (die Taube). Both are feminine!
🔄 Similar and Opposite Words
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Stadttaube/Haustaube: (City pigeon/Domestic pigeon) - Specific to urban birds.
- Friedenstaube: (Dove of peace) - Emphasizes symbolic meaning.
- Brieftaube: (Homing/Carrier pigeon) - Bred for carrying messages.
- Turteltaube: (Turtle dove) - Specific wild dove species, symbol of love.
- (Colloquial/Diminutive): Täubchen (Little dove)
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
Direct antonyms are rare. One might consider birds of prey that hunt pigeons:
- Falke: (Falcon) - A natural predator of the pigeon/dove.
- Habicht: (Hawk) - Another bird of prey that hunts pigeons/doves.
Risk of Confusion
😂 A Little Joke
German: Fragt eine Taube die andere: "Na, wie geht's?" Sagt die andere: "Gut, ich kann nicht klagen... aber gurren!"
English Translation: One pigeon asks another: "Well, how's it going?" The other says: "Good, I can't complain ('klagen')... but I can coo ('gurren')!" (This is a pun: "klagen" means to complain, but sounds a bit like a bird call, contrasted with "gurren" which means to coo.)
📜 A Little Poem
German:
Die Taube auf dem Dache sitzt,
Pickt Körner auf, ganz ungespitzt.
Sie gurrt und fliegt dann himmelwärts,
Ein Symbol für Frieden, tief im Herz.
Mal grau, mal weiß, im Sonnenlicht,
Ein alltäglich vertraut Gesicht.
English Translation:
The dove/pigeon sits upon the roof,
Pecks up seeds, quite aloof.
It coos and flies then toward the sky,
A symbol of peace, held deep inside.
Sometimes grey, sometimes white, in sunlight's gleam,
An everyday familiar scene.
🧩 Riddle Time
German:
Ich sitze oft auf Dach und Platz,
Und mache "Gurrr" als meinen Schatz.
Mal bring ich Post, mal Frieden nur,
Ich bin ein Vogel auf der Flur.
Wer bin ich?
English Translation:
I often sit on roof and square,
And make "Cooo" as my treasure there.
Sometimes I bring mail, sometimes just peace,
I am a bird found with ease.
Who am I?
Solution: die Taube (the pigeon/dove)
🤓 Other Information
- Symbolism: The white dove (weiße Taube) is internationally recognized as a symbol of peace (Friedenssymbol), popularized by Picasso's drawings. In Christianity, it symbolizes the Holy Spirit (Heiliger Geist).
- Homing Pigeons (Brieftauben): Pigeons were used for centuries to carry messages due to their strong homing instinct, reliably returning to their home loft (Heimatschlag).
- Etymology: The word "Taube" comes from the Old High German "tuba". The exact origin is unclear but might be onomatopoeic (related to cooing) or related to "dunkel" (dark, referring to the plumage of some species).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Taube?
The German word 'Taube' (pigeon/dove) is feminine, so the correct article is 'die'. Remember: die Taube.